Weeder.



F. M. NEWLAND.

WEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE4, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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UTED SATES FRANCIS M. NEVJLAND, OF ALGER, OHIO.

WEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 196 9.

Application filed June 4, 1909. Serial No. 500,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. NEWLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alger, in the county of Hardin, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVeeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in weeders and more particularly to the type known as hand-weeders.

The invention contemplates an improvement on a weeder granted me by Letters Patent, #876,580, dated January 14, 1908. In that patent a weeder is shown having a substantially U shaped frame, between the arms of which is rotatably mounted a roller having on its outer surface a plurality of prongs serving to uproot the weeds.

It has been found in practice, owing to the mounting of the roller, that during operation of the device the uprooted weeds were frequently forced between the ends of the roller and the supporting frame whereby the bearings of the roller became clogged and operation of the device rendered diiiicult.

The present invention aims to remedy this defect by providing the opposite ends of the roller with a pair of guards which are designed to prevent the entrance of weeds between the roller and its bearing.

Another object is the provision of an improved form of roller over that shown in the patent above stated, wherein a solid wooden roller was employed into the outer face of which were driven the weeding prongs. In the present instance a hollow cylindrical roller is employed preferably formed of metal having openings for the reception of the shanks of the weeding prongs which are bolted or suitably fastened in place insuch manner that they may be easily detached whenever desired.

A further object is the provision of an improved means for combining the roller with the supporting device.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully hereinafter appear, the pres ent invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It being understood that various changes in the 1 form, proportion, size and minor details of l the device may be made without departing i from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevation of the means for combining the roller with the supporting shaft.

Similar numerals of reference are em ployed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown in the drawings, the supporting frame is a U shaped structure disposed in a horizontal plane and preferably formed of two straps of metal designated by the numerals 5 and G. The strap 5, is, adjacent its forward end, bent inwardly and at rightangles as shown at 7 and thence forwardly and at right-angles as shown at 8. The opposite strap 6 is somewhat less in length than the strap 5 and adjacent one end is bent inwardly and at right-angles as shown at 9, this bent portion 9 being somewhat less in length than the first-named bent portion 7 of the strap 5. The bent portion 9 terminates in a forwardly bent portion 10 which bears on the forwardly bent portion 8 of the first-named strap to which it is rigidly secured by means of bolts or rivets 11. With this construction it is obvious a substantially U shaped frame has been formed, the sides of which are of equal lengths, and the forwardly projecting portions 8 and 10 arranged a trifle to one side of the longitudinal center of the frame. The forwardly extending portions 8 and 10 are at their outer ends provided with a laterally extending shaft 11 and journaled on the shaft 11 is a wheel 12, the latter being arranged in alineinent with the longitudinal center of the frame.

Depending from the inner faces of the sides 5 and 6 of the frame, are a pair of plates 13 and 14, which extend from the bent portions 7 and 9 to the rear terminals of the sides 5 and 6. The lower edges of these plates lie in plane with the lowermost point of the wheel 12, or substantially so.

By referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the side plates 13 and lt are centrally provided with a pair of alining arcuate openings 15, and adjustably secured in said openings are the opposite ends of a shaft 16, the outer terminals of which are threaded for the reception of binding nuts 17, by means of which the shaftis adjustably secured within the opening.

The roller in the present instance is designated by the numeral 18 and is shown to be a hollow cylindrical structure of a length to nicely fit between the plates and 1 1. In order that the roller may be suitably journaled on the shaft 16 without the aid of the usual heads, the following construction is employed :By referring now to Fig. at it will be seen that fori red on the inner face of the roller and arranged at diametrically opposite points and at the opposite end of the roller are a pair of guides 19, and insertible in said guides are a pair, of what will subsequently be tern'ied, supporting plates 19" and 20. Each of these members is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal or the like, the opposite terminals of which are bent at right-angles shown at 21 and 22, the distance between the bent portions 21 and 22 corresponding to the distance between the guides 19. The lengths of the guides 19 correspond to the lengths of the bent portions 21 and 22 so that when the plates are disposed within the guides as shown in Fig. at, the terminals of the bent portions 21 and 22 will be in coincidence with the edges of the drum. Each of the plates 19 and 20 are centrally provided with an opening for the reception of the shaft 16, the openings being of sufiicient diameter to permit the roller and plates to turn freely on said shaft.

The weeding prongs are each shown to consist of a shank portion 23, one terminal of which is threaded and extends through an opening in the roller and is secured in place by means of a nut or the like, it being understood that the threaded terminal of the shank is somewhat less in diameter than the major portion of the shank in order that a shoulder will be formed which will bear on the outer face of the roller. The outer terminal of each of the weeders terminates in a laterally extending spoon shaped structure 24: which is designed to enter the ground and uproot the weeds.

During the operation of the roller and its parts over the ground it frequently happens, as before stated, that the up-turned weeds are forced between the ends of the roller and the plates, whereby the movement of the device is impeded. In order to overcome this defect the following construction is employed :By referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that a pair of collars 25 and 26 are employed. These collars are of a size to encircle the roller and are arranged at the opposite ends of the latter with their outer sides bearing on the inner faces of the plates 13 and 1e. Formed on the upper ends of the collars are a pair of lugs 26 and 27, the upper ends of which are coincident with the upper edges of the plates 13 and 1%. These lugs are aperturedfor the reception of bolts 23 and 29, by means of which they are rigidly secured to the plates 13 and 14. The outer ends of the bolts extend through the straps 5 and 6 and through the lower ends of the handle bars 30 and 31, and on their terminals are threaded to receive the usual nuts 32 and 33.

Extending through the plates 13 and 1 1 and arranged to the rear of the drum is the usual knife. This member is preferably formed of a single piece of metal, substantially U shape in contour having its horizontal portion 3 1 arranged between the plates 13 and 14k and in a plane with the lower edges of said plates and its forward side sharpened to a cutting edge. The opposite limbs 35 and 36 extend upwardly and are secured to the opposed inner faces of the plates 13 and 1 1 by means of the bolts 37. Thus it can be seen that I have provided a device which is comparatively simple in structure and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is adapted to perform the function of weeding in an expeditious manner. 7

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a weeder, the combination with a supporting frame and a shaft having its ends secured to the opposite sides of the frame; of a hollow cylindrical roller encircling said shaft having oppositely arranged guides on its inner faces and located at its opposite ends, and a pair of substantially U shaped supporting plates, insertible into said guides, said plates having central openings for the reception of the shaft.

2. In a weeder, the combination with a supporting frame and a roller journaled between the opposite sides of the frame; of a pair of collars encircling the opposite ends of the roller and having lugs on their upper ends fixedly secured to the sides of the frame, said collars serving to prevent the entrance of weeds between the ends of the roller and sides of the frame.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS M. NEWVLAND. Vitnesses i T. REED DUNLOP, J AMES HUsroN. 

